Williamsport
Published on Nov 22, 2015
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Williamsport
The Timber boom
The Susquehanna River drains a watershed 157 miles long
It was Also 161 miles wide.
White pines were some of the most valuable trees in North America.
They were straight grained tough and resistant to warp and rot.
Worth their weight in gold.
White pines were some of the most valuable trees in North America.
They were straight grained tough and resistant to warp and rot.
Worth their weight in gold.
The only way to get trees out was to float them down the river
Floated them down the Sinnemahoning, the Loyalsock, and the Clearfeild to saw mills on the Susquehanna.
When the west branch canal opened in 1834 it connected Williamsport to the rest of PA. A group of Philidelphia investors opened the first saw mill in Williamsport and the timber boom began in 1838.
When the west branch canal opened in 1834 it connected Williamsport to the rest of PA. A group of Philidelphia investors opened the first saw mill in Williamsport and the timber boom began in 1838.
When logs arrived in Lock Haven, they could be stored and directed to their rightful owners
The big problem was how to hold the lumber safely until it could be cut.
Logs broke loose and floated away all the time. In the spring floods could send tens of thousands of logs down river.
Logs broke loose and floated away all the time. In the spring floods could send tens of thousands of logs down river.
When logs arrived in Lock Haven, they could be stored and directed to their rightful owners
The big problem was how to hold the lumber safely until it could be cut.
Logs broke loose and floated away all the time. In the spring floods could send tens of thousands of logs down river.
Logs broke loose and floated away all the time. In the spring floods could send tens of thousands of logs down river.
A bend in the river sent the logs to the south side
They completed the Susquehanna boom in 1851. The six miles of wall could hold close to a million logs in a 450 acre enclosure.
Williamsport became the lumber capital of the world. Between 1868 and 1906 its saw mills sawed more than eight billion feet of white pine.
Williamsport became the lumber capital of the world. Between 1868 and 1906 its saw mills sawed more than eight billion feet of white pine.
After opening planing mills, manufacturers made furniture, toys, packing boxes and whole houses
The good times lasted almost seventy years until the timber bust.
By the 1800s the timber barons were building railroads and using portable sawmills to cut wood on site.
By the 1800s the timber barons were building railroads and using portable sawmills to cut wood on site.
By the 1800's, timber barons were building railroads
Streams and rivers were no longer needed to float logs to towns with mills. The railroads made logging a year round operation.
By 1908, little remained of the great woods of Pennsylvania
The more intensive logging accelerated the cutting of trees. Soon little remained of the great woods of Northern PA. In 1894 the great flood washed almost two million board feet of lumber down the river.
In 1909 the boom was dismantled and the water era of sawmilling was over.
In 1909 the boom was dismantled and the water era of sawmilling was over.
